Misplaced loyalty
There is a totally backwards attitude in Washington that assumes any person appointed or elected to a position in the Executive branch has only two choices when they believe the President is breaking the law or lying to the people:
1) Keep your mouth shut and play ball by the President's rules instead of those specified in the Constitution which you have sworn to uphold.
2) Resign and keep your mouth shut.
Neither of those is acceptable. There is a big difference in serving "at the pleasure of the President" and serving "for the pleasure of the President," or "to pleasure the President." The loyalty of any government official, without exception and at all times, must belong to the Constitution and to the People. Every decision the official makes, and every action he takes must be in the best interest of the nation, and if that conflicts with a President's agenda, the President can like it or lump it. If it doesn't please him, he can dismiss the appointee. The appointee must realize that fear of dismissal is not a justification for shirking his responsibility to the people.
The President might appoint a U.S. Attorney, but that Attorney is not beholden to the President. He serves the people and owes his allegiance to the Constitution.
Take the case of former C.I.A. director George Tenet. He alleges that he believed the evidence being presented to the American public to justify war with Iraq was not accurate. He did nothing about it. He let the administration drag us into war based on lies. If what he says is true, he belongs in prison right now. He was complicit in the crimes, even if the words "slam dunk" never passed his lips.
If a President will not respect the Constitution and the rule of law, then he disrespects his own office, and should be afforded no loyalty by those who have sworn loyalty to the Constitution. To remain loyal to such a President is tantamount to treason.
The time has come for a peaceful mutiny and a harsh reckoning.
Many of the people with knowledge of wrongdoing will be Republicans who love their party. But they love justice more. They want to do the right thing, but feel conflicted. If that's you, realize that the worst thing you can do for your party is to let it become thoroughly corrupt and morally bankrupt. Holding criminals accountable and showing the public that there are Republicans who still believe in the rule of law will only help the party, and the American people will love you for it. You will be able to reclaim much of the respect and trust that has been lost in the last seven years.
Also realize that if Republicans continue on their current course, they will soon find themselves with fewer members than the Green Party and unable to garner half as many votes as Ralph Nader come November 2012. There is nothing partisan about justice. Any party that would deny justice to preserve the party would utterly destroy it by its own hand.
The decision is not an especially difficult one. Just ask yourself if twenty years from now, you will be able to look back on this present time and be proud of your decision. James Comey certainly did. The Deputy Attorney General told his colleagues that they would all be "ashamed" when the world eventually learned what they were doing.
by JC Garrett
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